CHEVROLET RACING IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES
STREETS OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
TEAM CHEVY FRONT ROW QUOTES
MARCH 9, 2019
TEAM PENSKE DRIVERS DELIVER ALL-CHEVY FRONT ROW AT ST. PETERSBURG
WILL POWER, NO. 12 VERIZON TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET – POLE WINNER:
ON WINNING POLE: “I was really surprised when he said, P-1, and I was like what? We had the used tires and it was just being there all session. But, it was a really neat lap. Obviously, the tires had a lap on them; but yeah, I was surprised. I thought someone still had another run to do or something, but yeah. Awesome job, awesome job. The car slowly climbed up all weekend. We were P-10 in the first few practices and moved to P-5. To get the pole for the first race of the season is awesome. It’s a really, really great start.”
WE TALKED ABOUT THE OFF-SEASON AND ALL THE EFFORT FOR TEAM PENSKE TO GET BETTER AT THE STREET COURSES. WHAT DOES THIS SAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GUYS STRUGGLED SO BAD ON FRIDAY?
“Chevrolet has done a fantastic job with the engine. We worked really hard on the off-season. And we’ve kind of gone back and had a really good look at our street course performance because it was not good enough last year. We’ve definitely come back with a nicer car to drive and much more in the window. It’s great work from the whole team; all three guys, we’ve all worked hard together to get this result.”
WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE ABOUT STARTING UP FRONT HERE. TURN 1 IS TIGHT, THAT’S WHERE EVERYBODY SEEMS TO WRECK. AND THEN YOU GET DOWN INTO TURNS 4 AND 5, AND IT’S TIGHT THERE AS WELL
“Yeah, you’ve got to remember it’s a long race. It’s like 110 laps. So, you’ve got to be smart. I wasn’t smart last year and spun in the first corner and just put us on the back foot from the beginning. So, I want to have a great start. Obviously being on pole really helps. And getting through that first lap and do what we can to try and win another race.”
ON GETTING READY TO QUALIFY: “I had a great nap before I qualified. I actually fell asleep so I felt really fresh and honestly I didn’t expect to be on pole because we had used tires. We didn’t have new like a couple of the other guys so, over the moon man, over the moon to start on pole. I really am happy.
ARE YOU GOING TO BEAK THE STAT HERE THAT POLE WINNERS DON’T WIN RACE? “It’s about time a pole winner won this race so I want to stop that trend of the last place guy winning. So, we’ll do our best.”
“That last run the car felt really good. I have to say it was a very neat lap and I didn’t really leave anything on the table.”
JOSEF NEWGARDEN, NO. 2 HITACHI TEAM PENSKE CHEVROLET:
“It was a medium start to the weekend. We weren’t bad and we got a top ten, but we weren’t crazy stellar. We definitely found our footing this morning and made the car really good. Everyone really executed today. I’m only disappointed in myself. I didn’t put together the best lap there when it really counted. We did a great job getting into the Firestone Fast Six as a team so you can’t be dissatisfied. It’s really positive for the whole organization. Team Chevy did a really good job and worked really hard overnight for us to make sure what we needed for the No. 2 Hitachi Chevy. So thank you Chevy for giving us everything we need. It’s hard to not be disappointed when you’re quick and we had a little better tires. We were on the preferred tire and you want to capitalize on it but I messed up that first lap and booked it on the second. It was close but wasn’t good enough.”